The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs today called for the establishment of a "broad consensus" among party forces at the Legislative Assembly under the Autonomy reform process.
 
Berto Messias spoke at the debate raised by a political statement submitted by the Socialist Party on this matter. On the occasion, he admitted that "there will be disagreements, convergences and disagreements," but acknowledged that "this is good and healthy."
 
"It seems to us that those who will handle this process in other contexts will eventually hope that we fail to agree on structural matters for the future of our Autonomy.  I am also sure that all those who are here will have the responsibility and the wit to perceive this, considering that what unites us in terms of structural issues for the future of our Region and our Autonomy is far more than what separates us," stressed the Regional Secretary.
 
Berto Messias recalled that the Azores currently register "unprecedented development economic, social and infrastructural development indexes," highlighting that the merit of "all this evolution and considerable improvement in the quality of life of the Azoreans is certainly the result of 40 years of Democratic Autonomy in our Region."
 
The government official emphasised the importance of political agents for the "dissemination of the importance of Autonomy and what it represents every day." Nowadays, there is an "affirmative Autonomy that is not subservient to the National Government, it rather stands out every day, proving to be an asset for our country."
 
"The Azores, as a regional autonomy, provide a significant contribution to the projection - even international - of our country. They are one of the most successful political processes in our country due to the merit of those have built, over the course of 40 years, the democratic autonomy we have today.  This is also merit of all Azoreans," said the government official.
 
Berto Messias stressed that it is up to the various political forces to "disseminate the Autonomy" by highlighting the "importance of having the ability to decide for ourselves the use of our resources and, consequently, to guarantee better and more quality of life to our fellow citizens."
 
"It is fundamental that we - all of us - do not let ourselves be carried away by last-minute populism or by an increasingly media-oriented and short-sighted society so that, in this autonomy process reform, we may reach a consolidated Autonomy in favour of the development of our Region and the Azoreans, because that is what really matters," said Berto Messias.